Metal can and closure therefor



Nov. 28, 1967 E. w. sExToN METAL CAN AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l N QJ .Z E /m 5., mw VD 3 WR o m 4 G :J F 2 m n Z w. 4 Z l 5 v.. F m /1 1 w Hm- IIHH.. E d :n MNM f im n 2 OM .7 4 4 9 Madan., mZ//wa l ATTORNEYS F'IG.

Nov. 28, 1967 E. w. sEx'roN 3,355,053

METAL CAN AND CLOSURE THEREFOR I Filed Nov. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *Will INVENTOR EDWARD w. sExToN BY @zwm mijn, 5m

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,355,053 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 fire ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Y` A moisture-proof closure between an outwardly eX- tending liange at the en-d of a metal tube and the end of a cylindrical metal container, for example, an explosive cartridge or an aerosol container. The closure includes au annular member which has a tubular member surrounding and in-face-to-face engagement with the portion of the tube Iwhich is adjacent to the flange of the tube, a rst layer of the annular member underlying the flange and extending outwardly from the tubular member, a second layer integral with the first layer and extending inwardly from its periphery, overlying at least part of the flange but with its inner margin located outwardly of the tube and a third layer overlying the outer portion of the second layer and extending outwardly from its inner margin and means for sealing the third layer to the end of the cylindrical container. In the preferred embodiment the bends between (1) the flange and the wall of the tube and (2) the first layer and the tubular member are acute angles and the liange is wedge shaped in cross section, i.e., of outwardly decreasing thickness.

Brief summary of the invention This invention is concerned with an improvement in metal cans and with a moisture-proof closure which includes a tube located inwardly from the periphery of the closure.

The improvement is useful in the upper or primer container or can of a columnar assembly of explosive cartridges or cans in which the closure for the upper end of the primer can includes a centrally disposed tube which projects into the can and is adapted to receive an electric detonator, blasting cap or fuse, although the improved closure is also useful in other cans where moisture-proofness. is important and a tube is required as au element of the closure, for example aerosol containers.

One type of columnarassembly of cans with which this invention is useful is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 3,013,492 dated Dec. 19, 1961. It comprises complementary cans filled with an explosive composition wherein the elongate column formed by the assembled cans is capable of being thrust forceably to the desired level below the earths surface through mud, moist soil and the like and ythe cans are capable of resisting the penetration of moisture to their interiors and thence to the explosive composition therein.

Heretofore the upper end of the tube provided for the reception of the electric detonator, blasting cap or fuse, has been secured moisture-ti-ght to the metal closure of the primer can by the use of a rubber gasket incorporated in a clinch or by soldering the end of the tube to an annular member. Both methods are very expensive.

One object of the present invention is to provide a closure for a can of the character described which is economical to manufacture and eliminates the necessity for the use of gaskets or solder.

Another object of the invention is -to produce such a closure which is moisture-proof.

A further object is to produce a novel can of the character described in which a tube is attached moisture-tight to the closure for one end of the can.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is provided with a flange extending outwardly from one end and an annular member is sealed to this flange by means of a tubular member which surrounds said tube adjacent to the flange and three layers of metal folded in such a way that the lirst layer underlies the flange, approximately the outer one third of the ilange is gripped between the first and second layers and the third layer overlies the second layer. In forming such a closure, the

vflange is preferably formed so that the bend between it and the wall of the tube forms an acute angle. Furthermore, the part of the flange which is gripped between the rst and second layers is preferably formed of outwardly decreasing thickness, that is, of generally wedge-shape in cross-section. In another preferred embodiment, the bend between said rst layer and said tubular member preferably forms an acute angle `formed by the bend between the flange and the tube.

It has been found that a moisture-proof seal between the tube and the annular member is provided by a closure of this invention if only a very small amount of a sealing compound is placed in the space between (1) the aforesaid bend between the ange and the tube and (2) the aforesaid bend between the first layer and the tubular member. The saving in cost is very substantial since it costs only about 50 for the sealing compound for producing 1,000 closures according to the present invention whereas with the prior art closures the cost of rubber gaskets for producing 1,000 closures is $9.00. Furthermore, the tube may be made of aluminum in practicing the present invention and the use of an aluminum tube is much cheaper than the use of the prior art soldering method.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to .persons skilled in the art from the following description and the accompanying drawings which describe and show for illustrative purposes only, one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a columnar assembly of explosive cartridges or cans with the assembly interrupted in one portion to expose the exteriorly threaded male element which is to be screwed into the female element of the adjacent can thereby to secure these two cans together.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged View in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing a primer container or can with a closure member embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section showing a closure member embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlanged fragmentary view in vertical section showing the closure member of FIG. 3 sealed to the end of a primer can and the can lled with primer explosive.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the tube and annular member in one stage of fabrication of the closure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the tube and annular member in another stage of fabrication and also showing the male and female dies which produced this stage product, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the tube and annular member in another stage of fabrication and also showing the male and female dies which produced this stage product.

The assembly of individual explosive cartridges or cans 1 through 4 in FIG. 1 forms part of an elongated rigid columnar charge which lends itself to being thrust into a drilled hole or other opening by forces applied downwardly upon it near the top. The subsurface environments in which such elongated charges are to be fired may include water, oil, mire and dirt, all of which must be prevented from reaching the explosive material in the individual cartridges. An externally threaded male coupling such as the coupling 8 of cartridge 2 cooperates with a complementary internally threaded female coupling element 9 of the adjoining cartridge detachably to secure the cartridges together. Simple manipulations of the couplings are effective to join the cartridges in the desired end to end relationship.

The uppermost cartridge or can 1 is the primer container and it is provided with a closure indicated generally by the numeral 10, the periphery of which is clinched at 11 to the upper end of the cylinder 12. The lower end of the cylinder 12 is closed by any suitable means, for example, it may be drawn from the same metal as the cylinder 12 and integral therewith as disclosed in my aforesaid patent No. 3,013,492.

The closure member comprises a tube 14 sealed to the annular member 15, the periphery of which is sealed at 11 to the upper end of the cylinder 12. The tube may be made of copper or aluminum which is from 1%000 to 2%000 inch thick. The annular member 15 may be made of thin gauge steel which is 1%000 to 1%000 inch thick or thicker.

The lower end of the tube 14 is closed by a bottom wall 16 and the upper end is provided with an integral fiange 17 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which extends outwardly therefrom.

The annular member is provided with a tubular member 20 which surrounds the portion of the tube 14 which is adjacent to the flange 17.

A first layer of metal 21 extends outwardly from the tubular member, underlies the flange 17 and extends outwardly to beyond its periphery. The metal is bent upon itself to form the second layer 22 which extends inwardly from the periphery of the first layer toward the axis of the tubular member, overlies the outer portion of the first layer and also overlies at least the outer portion of the flange 17. As shown in the drawings, it overlies about one third of the flange. The second layer is then bent upon itself to form a third layer 23 which overlies the second layer and extends outwardly from its inner margin. The third layer extends outwardly and thence upwardly where it is formed into the interiorly threaded female coupling 24. From the upper end of the female coupling it extends outwardly at 25 (FIG. 4), thence upwardly at 26, thence outwardly at 27, thence downwardly at 28, thence inwardly at 29 and finally upwardly at 30, thereby to form a clinching seal with the upper end of the cylinder 12, this seal being indicated generally by the numeral 11.

It will be observed that the bend 40 between the flange 17 and the wall of the tube 14 forms a generally acute angle with respect to the wall. It will also be observed that the bend 41 between the first layer 21 and the tubular member 20 forms a generally acute angle with the wall of the tubular member. A very small space is provided between these bends and preferably it is filled with a sealing compound 45.

The stage product shown in FIG. 5 shows the tube 14 formed with the flange 17, a portion of the annular member formed with the tubular member 20 and the first layer 21 underlying the ange 17. The adjacent portion of the annular member is formed into a frusto conical portion 51.

The stage product of FIG. 5 is placed in the female die 60 of FIG. 6. The male die 61 is provided with a projection 62 which is adapted to be received by the tubular member 14 and the central passage 63 of the female die. The male die is provided with an upwardly concave portion 65.

When the male die is closed upon the stage product shown in FIG. 5, that product is reformed into the stage product shown in FIG. 6 wherein the second layer 22 is bent inwardly to overlie a substantial portion of the flange 17 and the annular member is bent in the other direction to form the third layer 23.

The stage product of FIG. 6 then passes to the male die 72 and the female die 70 of FIG. 7. The male die is provided with a projecting member 73 which is adapted to enter the tube 14 and the recess 71 in the female die.

When the dies of FIG. 7 are closed upon the stage product of FIG. 6, the stage product shown in FIG. 7 is produced. It will be observed that the outer portion of the fiange 17 is formed into a wedge shape in cross section so that it gradually decreases in thickness, at least in that part of it which is gripped between the first and second layers. It will also be observed that the pressing operation of FIGURE 7 converts the angle at the bend 40 between the flange 17 and the wall of the tube 14 from a generally right angle to a generally acute angle. It will also be observed that the operation of FIG. 7 converts the angle 41 between the first layer and the tubular member 20 from a generally right angle into a igenerally acute angle with the wall of the tubular member 20.

Referring to FIG. l, the detonator shield preferably is made of a non-metallic rigid and electrical non-conducting material such as plastic or hard rubber. It is provided with an exteriorly threaded male coupling member which is received by the interiorly threaded coupling 24 of the primer can. The electric detonator 82 is received by the tube 14 and the lead wires 83, 8 4 pass upwardly and outwardly through the shield 80.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the present invention provides a closure for a can which is economical to manufacture, moisture-proof and eliminates the necessity for use of gaskets or solder in a closure requiring the presence of a tube projecting from one surface thereof.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown herein and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a metal can of the character described comprising a cylinder, means for closing one end of said cylinder and a cover for the other end of said cylinder, said cover comprising a tube, means for closing one end of said tube, a flange extending outwardly from the other end of said tube, an annular member having a tubular member surrounding and in face-to-face engagement with the outer portion of said tube which is adjacent to said flange, and a first layer extending outwardly from said tubular member, underlying said flange and extending outwardly beyond its periphery, the improvement comprising said annular member having a second layer integral with said first layer, extending inwardly from the periphery of said first layer towards the axis of said tubular member with its inner margin located outwardly of said tube, said second layer overlying the outer portion of said first layer and overlying at least the outer portion of said ange, tween said first layer and said tubular member forms and a third layer integral with said second layer, overlyan acute angle. ing it and extending outwardly from its inner margin and 5- A Carl aCCOfdng t0 Claim 1 wherein Said SeCOIld means for sealing said third layer to the said other end layer OVefleS Only about 011e third 0f Said Hang@ of said cylinder. 5

2. A can according to claim 1 wherein the portion References Cted of said ange which is positioned -between said first and UNITED STATES PATENTS second layers is of outwardly decreasing thickness. 2,802,487 8/1957 Breehl 220.45

3. A can according to claim 2 wherein the bend belo 3,013,492 12/ 1961 Sexton 220-23.83 vgxaaglieange and the wall of said tube forms an THERON E' CONDON Primary Examiner.

4. A can according to claim 3 wherein the bend be- JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner. 

1. IN A METAL CAN OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A CYLINDER, MEANS FOR CLOSING ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER AND A COVER FOR THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDER, SAID COVER COMPRISING A TUBE, MEANS FOR CLOSING ONE END OF SAID TUBE, A FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBE, AN ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING A TUBULAR MEMBER SURROUNDING AND IN FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID TUBE WHICH IS ADJACENT TO SAID FLANGE, AND A FIRST LAYER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, UNDERLYING SAID FLANGE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND ITS PERIPHERY, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING SAID ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING A SECOND LAYER INTEGRAL WITH SAID 